Jim Thompson's novel, The Grifters, I note with relief, is not quite so brutal as The Killer Inside Me, but still has plenty of sordid behavior. From 1963, this is the tale of young con man, Roy Dillon, and the con women in his life: mother Lilly and mistress Moira. Thompson tells this one in third person and does a fine job of moving the focal point from character to character, juicing the dynamics somewhat like crosscuts in a film. The explanations of the standard con games are also rather interesting on their own, moreso as additional color for the characters. A fine punch-in-the-gut read.
And a good film at that.
Posted by Simon at 08:39 AM, December 01, 2003.i had ready to list en to Hitchikers Guide for Harpy Nou Yar but it was not to be or not to be. my pc dot com crashed from a big wide open mouth on the broad band. i relaxed the viral and went into a spiral of weary saving cutting copy move slash dot and burn. i had this Book Of The Road, three hours of popular play while you drive or play.'The Grifters read by James Edmonson and Joan Stuart Morris, c 1985.
"my favorite crime novelist- often imitated, but never duplicated - is Jim Thompson". Steven King
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